The state has given permits to 12 applicants to legally grow and process marijuana, as Pennsylvania aims to make the pot available for patients sometime in 2018.

The Pennsylvania Health Department named the entities that are located across the state from 177 applicants.  The first round of permits for 27 dispensary permits should be announced next week.

"This was a huge day for patients and for the people of Pennsylvania," said state Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, a main sponsor of the medical marijuana law enacted in April 2016. "We can see light at the end of the tunnel."

The 12 applicants will have about 6 months to meet the required standards that demonstrate that they are operational, after which the state will give them the permission to being the process of growing.

If anyone of the applicant fails to make it, the state will give an additional time, after which the Health Department will consider the next step, said the director of the Office of Medial Marijuana, John Collins.

The state released the names and locations of the growers, as well as the scorecards used to decide which applicants were most worthy.

The entities were judged on security, storage, processing and extraction and the community impact.

The regulations require the growing of marijuana plants indoor in an enclosed facility.

The information about the growers, including the names of the principal owners, will be released in July.

Registration of patients and caregivers will start in September, with cards being issued in November.

The state law allows patients to consume the drug by pill, oil, vapor, ointment or liquid, but not in a form that can be smoked.

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